Self-arming altitude switch responsive to ambient physical variables to initiate one or more operations



Sheet of 4 arch 4, 1969 E. D. KENZIE SELF-ARMING ALTITUDE SWITCHRESPONSIVE TO AMBIENT PHYSICAL VARIABLES TO INITIATE ONE OR MOREOPERATIONS Filed Aug 21 1967 R O m V m Ernesf Dennis Kenzie ATTORNEY 5March 4, 1969 KENZlE 3,431,376

SELFARMING ALTITUDE SWITCH RESPONSIVE TO AMBIENT PHYSICAL, VARIABLES TOINITIATE ONE OR MORE OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Sheet 2 of 4 L y} F!g. 5

INVENTOR Ernesf Dennis KEHZI'E ATTORNEY 3,431,376 BIENT March 1969 E. o.KENZIE 5ELFARMING ALTITUDE SWITCH RESPONSIVE TO AM PHYSICAL VARIABLES TOINITIATE ONE OR MORE OPERATIONS Sheet Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Fig. 5

Fig, 7

INVENTOR E H1257 Dennis Kenz/e March 4, 1969 KENZlE; 3,431,376

SELF-ARMING ALTITUDE SWITCH RESPONSIVE To AMBIENT PHYSICAL VARIABLES ToINITIATE ONE OR MORE OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Sheet 4 of 4INVENTOR Err-125% Danni's Kenzie ATTORNEYj 39,417/ 66 US. Cl. 200-83Claims Int. Cl. Hillh 35/24 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A triggeringdevice or self-arming switch which is operable in response to change inan ambient physical variable to initiate one or more operations. Thedevice can be used as a self-armin g barometric actuated switch,arranged to trip or move a switch arm at different atmospheric pressuresfor the purpose of closing at predetermined different altitudes,different circuits.

This invention relates to a triggering or self-arming device operable inresponse to change in an ambient physical variable to initiate one ormore operations.

Triggering devices responsive to change in atmospheric pressure havebeen used on rockets and on parachutes apparatus to deploy a parachutecanopy as the rocket descends after having reached it apogee. It is aprimary object of the present invention to provide a triggering deviceor self-arming altitude operated switch which is responsive to ambientphysical change for the purpose of initiating one or moreother-operations.

It is an object of this invention to provide a self-arming barometricactuated switch arming device which includes a casing structure soconstructed and arranged as to trip a switch arm at different pressuresas the device is descending through the atmosphere, for the purpose ofsetting off at predetermined altitudes different operations such as theclosing of different circuits.

It is an object of this invention to provide a triggering or self-armingdevice operable in response to changes of ambient physical variables toinitiate one or more operations, and which device operates to performsaid operations incidental to change in atmospheric pressure, change ofthe humidity, changes of temperatures or in underwater operations wherethe device can be arranged to arm itself upon increase of pressure andto initiate an event upon a subsequent decrease in pressure.

It is a further object of this device to provide a triggering orself-arming device which can arm itself at a high altitude wherebyduring descent it will perform operations at different lower altitudes,such as to successfully initiate deployment of a small drogue or pilotparachute canopy and later deployment of a main parachute canopy.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the device, showing the top cover end.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and moreparticularly showing the device as the details would appear at groundlevel with its trip lever held in aninoperative position and showinganeroid capsule means to'arm and control the device.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1,showing the device as its details appear at ground level and with thetrip lever or switch held inoperative.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the details of the device nited States PatentC) 3,431,376 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 with the cover removed and the triplever held inoperative.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 5-5, shown inFIGURE 4, of one circuit which may be closed by the device forperforming an operation.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the details shown in FIGURE 2, butshowing the aneroid capsules expanded by increase in pressure for thepurpose of tripping a switch arm and allowing it to move to a positionfor closing an electric circuit, to perform some operation.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the details as they appear in FIGURE 6,showing the switch arm in position for closing an electric circuit.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of details appearing in FIGURE 2, butwith the trip lever or switch arm in position to enable closing ofanother electric circuit upon further altitude descent for the purposeof closing a second electric circuit and initiating another operation.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the details appearing in FIGURE 8 showing thetrip lever or switch arm in position to close a second electric circuitat a lower altitude.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A may generally designate the self-arming altitude operatingswitch. It preferably includes a casing structure 10 which includes anannular or other shaped wall 11 having a bottom closure 12 and a topcover closure 13. The wall 11 is provided with an external annularflange 14 against which the bottom closure 12 is positioned and boltedthereto as at 15. A gasket 16 may seal the mounting of the bottomclosure 12 upon the wall 11. The casing 10 further includes anotherannular flange 20 to which the top closure 13 is bolted at 13 A gasket22 is provided to seal the connection of the top closure 13 upon thewall 11. The wall 11 defines a chamber between the closures 12 and 13which may be subdivided into an upper chamber 23 and lower chamber 24 byan annular internal flange 26. The annular flange has an opening 27therethrough to communicate the chambers 23 and 24.

The bottom closure 12 is intended to support a barometric motor 30operated by changes in pressure of surrounding atmosphere. It consistsof a lower aneroid capsule 31 and an upper aneroid capsule 32. They arecentrally connected together at 33. The capsules operate the same as anyaneroid capsule, expanding and contracting according to varyingatmospheric pressures. The lower capsule 31 is provided with a centralscrew threaded stud 34 which may be bolted by a nut 35 to the bottomclosure 12, thus positioning the two capsules in the chamber 24 forvertical expansion and contraction. Preferably the screw threaded stem34 is screwed into the wall 12 and the nut 35 acts as a lock nut. On topof the upper capsule 32 and centrally thereof is located an upstandingcentral stem or stud 36, shown in FIGURE 3, upon which is positioned aninverted rigid cap or collar member 37 which may support a clampingscrew 38 in order to clamp the same to stud 36 at the proper operatingheight. The rigid cap or collar member 37 controls the position of aswitch arm or lever, to be subsequently described. It is provided withcentrally positioned upstanding radially reduced portion 40 defining anannular upwardly facing shoulder 41. Its upper surface 42 is flat andpositioned at right angles to the axis of movement of the barometricmotor. The stepped stud or collar 37 controls the position of a switcharm, to be subsequently described, under influence of its position asdetermined by the barometric motor. A trip lever 50 of insulationmaterial is pivotally mounted on a pin 51 which is secured as by abottom head portion 52 upon the flange 26. It is located on a verticalaxis. This enables the arm 50 to swing horizontally in the upper chamber23. A spring 54 is secured by screws 55 as shown in FIGURE 4, to theouter side of the lever 50; the spring 54 being bowed and engaging theinternal wall of the chamber 23, as shown in FIGURE 4, for the purposeof normally urging the switch lever 50 inwardly so it may move from thecocked position shown in FIGURE 4 to its most advanced position as shownin FIGURE 9.

Referring to FIGURE 3 it will be noted that the pivot pin 51 of the triplever or switch arm 50 does not extend the entire distance through thearm 50. A pointed screw 60 is screwed into the top cover 13 and held inposition by a lock nut 61. The point of the screw designated at 62 islocated in the pivot hole of the arm 50. Thus, the switch arm 50 pivotsabout the point of the screw as well as upon the pin 51. The switch arm50 is slotted at 64 to provide some resistance against the pressure ofthe pointed screw 60. Of course, the pressure of the screw 60 isadjusted to prevent movement of the trip lever in one directionperpendicular to the plane of intended movement while producing theminimum pivotal friction.

As shown in FIGURE 2 a supporting block 65 is mounted upon the flange 26by means of a clamping screw or bolt 66. The head of this screw 66 alsosecures an elongated leaf spring 67 in position upon the block. Thisspring extends radially across the casing 10 and is lcated in the upperchamber 23. The spring 67 has secured to it; by means of screws of bolts70, a catch or stop 71. The leaf spring 67 and stop 71 constitute anarming element or arrangement. The leaf spring 67 allows movement of thestop 71 in a direction towards and away from the switch arm. The purposeof this stop 71 is to engage, at its end edge, the arm 50 to hold thelatter in an inoperative position, as shown in FIGURE 2. The free end ofthe leaf spring 67 is bowed or bent upwardly at 73 and bears against theunder surface of the top cover 13 of easing or housing 10 to preventbounce of spring 67, which might accidentally arm the device. The triplever 50 can be pivoted to latch behind the edge of stop 71, shown inFIGURE 2, for the purpose of holding it in a disarmed condition.

For the purpose of tripping the catch 71 and moving the leaf spring 67 astem 75 having a screwed portion 76 is threaded through the spring 67and catch 71 the same having the lower end thereof in position to beengaged by the shoulder 41 of the rigid member 37. The stem or member 75is locked in position by nut 78. It can be vertically adjusted so thatthe rigid member 37 of the barometric motor can actuate it for disarmingthe switch arm 50 at the proper time. The barometric motor moves therigid member 37 against the stem 75 just before the barometric motorbecomes fully expanded. At the outer movable end of switch arm or triplever 50 there is provided a contact bridging spring 80 secured by ascrew or bolt 81 in position. It is adapted to bridge contacts mountedupon the casing 10.

FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings show the capsules 31 and 32 of thebarometric motor collapsed so that the rigid member shoulder 41 isspaced from the stem 75. This permits the barometric motor capsules toexpand and the stud 37 to be elevated from the position shown in FIGURE2. After the spring 67 has been lifted to release the stop 71 fromholding the switch arm 50, the spring 54 will move the switch arm 50 toengage the stud or collar 37 at its larger diametered portion. Thedevice is then armed.

The top closure 41 of the housing 10 is provided with a vent opening 90to provide access of the atmosphere to the interior of housing 10. Atube 91 is connected to the cover 13, as shown in FIGURE 3, having apassageway 92 therein communicating with the vent opening 90. This givesprotection to the vent opening and enables the device to operate inresponse to atmospheric pressure. When not in use the vent opening canbe closed by a bung 93,

shown in FIGURE 3, in dot and dash lines, to prevent.

ingress of dust and dampness to the chambers 23 and 24.

The operation of the device follows:

The top cover 13 is normally held closed by the countersunk screws 13.It is removed and the trip lever 50 is pivoted until it latches behindthe edge of the catch 71 of the arming element. The top cover is thenreplaced.

Assuming the device A is used in connection with rocket or othermechanisms, after being projected into the air, when atmosphericpressure is decreased the capsules expand until the edge 41 of stud 37bears against stem of the arming element. Continued expansion of thecapsules pushes the catch 71 out of engagement with the trip lever orthe switch arm 50 allowing the latter to be urged by spring 54 againstthe larger diametered portion of the rigid member 37. The device is nowarmed and this arming is preferably arranged to occur just before thecapsules 31 and 32 reach the limit of expansion.

With increasing ambient pressure the capsules 31 and 32 begin tocollapse. This moves the rigid member 37 downwardly until the trip lever50 moves from the larger diametered portion of the collar 37 and engagesthe reduced end 40 of this member 37 at a location above the shoulder41. At the end of this movement of the collar 37, the trip lever 50bridging contact engages the pair of contacts located on the housing 10in the chamber 23. This closes an electrical circuit for the performanceof some operation or other event. Further increase in ambient pressurecauses further collapse of the barometric motor capsules until the triplever 50 slips off the collar 37 and moves over the top surface of therigid member 37 to the position shown in FIGURE 8, whereupon thebridging contact 80 of the switch arm engages or wipes across a secondpair of contacts 101 and closes a second electrical circuit to preformanother operation or initiate another event.

It should again be noted that at atmospheric ground pressure thebarometric motor 30 is in collapsed position, as shown in FIGURE 2, withthe catch 71 engaging the switch arm 50 to hold it inoperative. Duringrise of the device in the atmosphere to a lower pressure the capsules ofthe barometric motor 30 expand to a point where the catch 71 releasesthe switch arm 50. The latter can then move to engage the largerdiameter portion of the barometric control member 37 as above describedand thereafter the device functions as above described for the closingof a plurality of circuits, at ditferent altitudes, for the initiationof a plurality of operations or events.

In FIGURE 5 is shown an insulation plug 102 with connected wires 103arranged so that as the switch arm contact 80 engages the pair ofcontacts 100 or 101 the same will close one or more electric circuits.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may bemade to the form of invention herewith shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A triggering device comprising a support, a movably mounted controlmeans on said support, motor means on said support actuated by anambient physical variable arming means to releasably maintain saidcontrol means inoperative, said motor means having means thereon toactuate said arming means for releasing said control means at apredetermined ambient physical change to perform a first operation andsubsequently a second operation at an another and difiFerent ambientphysical change.

2. A triggering device comprising a support, motor means mounted on thesupport and movable in response to a change in an ambient physicalvariable, a rigid member operatively connected to said movable motormeans to move in opposite directions upon changes of the ambientphysical variable, a movable member mounted on the support for movementin a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said rigidmember, an arming element mounted on the support serving to hold themovable member against movement,

in an inoperative position, the arming element upon movement of Saidrigid member in one direction being displaced to allow said movablemember to bear on the rigid member for arming the device, and means onthe rigid member to control the position of the movable member atdifferent changes in ambient physical variables for performance of aplurality of different operations.

3. In a self-arming altitude operating switch device the combination ofa frame structure, a barometric motor mounted upon the frame structurehaving a vertically movable member provided 'with stepped portions whichare vertically stepped, a switch arm movably mounted upon said frame formovement in a direction transverse to the movement of said steppedmember, spring biasing means normally biasing said switch member in thedirection of said stepped member, arming means mounted on the frame tonormally maintain said member out of the path of engagement with thestepped member, means carried by the arming means for engagement by thestepped member to release the switch arm upon expansion of thebarometric motor, said frame having a plurality of relatively insulatedcontacts thereon at different locations adapted to be engaged atdifferent times by the switch arm, the stepped portions of said movablemember being such that at different positions of movement of thebarometric motor the steps will release the switch arm for causingsuccessive engagement of the contacts to successively close differentelectric circuits.

4. A self-arming altitude operating switch device comprising a housing,barometric aneroid capsule means mounted in said housing having amovable end. A stud mounted on said movable end for movement therewith,a switch arm movably mounted on the housing for movement in a directiontransverse to the movement of said stud, holding means to normally holdthe switch arm inoperative and out of the path of said stud, saidholding means being engageable with said stud upon inflation of theaneroid capsule means to trip the same and release the switch arm forcontact with the stud.

5. The device of claim 4 in which a plurality of sets of contacts aremounted at different locations on its housing in the path of travel ofthe switch arm, said switch arm having a bridging contact adapted toengage said contacts at different intervals during movement of theswitch arm, and said stud having relatively stepped portions adapted tobe engaged by the switch arm to initiate the closing of differentcircuits at different times.

6. The device of the claim 5 in which spring means normally biases theswitch arm to move into the path of travel of the stud.

7. The device of claim 6 in which means is provided to prevent releaseof the switch arm holding means except under influence of movement ofthe stud upon expansion of the aneroid capsule means.

8. The device described in claim 6 in which the switch arm is pivotedand in which the housing is provided with means to prevent movement ofthe switch arm transverse to its normal pivotal movement.

9. In a self-arming altitude operating switch device the combination ofa housing having a chamber therein, an atmospheric pressure actuatedbarometric motor having a movable portion, means on the barometric motormovable portion defining a plurality of shoulders relatively stepped,located at different distances from the axis of movement of thebarometric motor movable portion, a pivoted switch arm mounted on thehousing, arming means normally releasably holding the switch arm in aninoperative position, spring means normally biasing the switch arm tomove in the direction of said stepped portion of the barometric motor,and means on the holding means adapted to be engaged by the movable endof the barometric motor to release the switch arm against said steppedportions.

10. The device of claim 9 in which the housing at different locations inthe path of travel of the switch arm has mounted thereon relativelyspaced pairs of contacts, and a bridging contact carried by said switcharm for successively bridging said pairs of contacts at differentatmospheric pressures controlled positions of said stepped portions tosuccessively close different circuits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,552 3/1938 Hayden 102-7022,486,172 11/1949 Gerhardt 200-8331 2,642,801 6/ 1943 Gleason 102-7022,870,714 1/1959 Weller 102-702 2,913,984 11/1959 Meek et a1 102-7022,982,213 5/1961 Meschino et a1 102-702 2,702,507 2/1955 Bennett et al102-702 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 102-702

